Multi-access edge computing slicing

Abstract

An apparatus comprising: at least one processor; and at least one non-transitory memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to: manage an application service using a management web portal; request, using the management web portal, the application service with a given service level agreement from a catalogue of offered application services; and communicate, using the management web portal, with an application service management function; wherein the application service management function is configured to translate the service level agreement of the requested application service to a specification of an application slice, and to trigger a creation of an application slice instance by contacting an application slice management function.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An apparatus comprising:
 at least one processor; and 
 at least one non-transitory memory including computer program code; 
 wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to: 
 establish an interface with an application service management function; 
 receive, over the interface from an application service management function with an application slice management function, a request to trigger a creation of an application slice; and 
 split the application slice into multiple subnets, one subnet of the multiple subnets corresponding to a domain over which the application slice spans. 
 
     
     
       2. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are further configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to:
 establish an interface with an application slice subnet management function. 
 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are further configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to:
 establish a second interface with a network slice management function; 
 wherein the application slice management function is configured to communicate directly with the network slice management function over the second interface to manage network slice subnets associated with the application slice. 
 
     
     
       4. A method comprising:
 establishing an interface with an application service management function; 
 receiving, over the interface from an application service management function with an application slice management function, a request to trigger a creation of an application slice; and 
 splitting the application slice into multiple subnets, one subnet of the multiple subnets corresponding to a domain over which the application slice spans. 
 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 4 , further comprising establishing an interface with an application slice subnet management function. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 4 , further comprising establishing a second interface with a network slice management function;
 wherein the application slice management function is configured to communicate directly with the network slice management function over the second interface to manage network slice subnets associated with the application slice. 
 
     
     
       7. A non-transitory program storage device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable with the machine for performing operations, the operations comprising:
 establishing an interface with an application service management function; 
 receiving, over the interface from an application service management function with an application slice management function, a request to trigger a creation of an application slice; and 
 splitting the application slice into multiple subnets, one subnet of the multiple subnets corresponding to a domain over which the application slice spans. 
 
     
     
       8. The non-transitory program storage device of  claim 7 , the operations further comprising establishing an interface with an application slice subnet management function. 
     
     
       9. The non-transitory program storage device of  claim 7 , the operations further comprising establishing a second interface with a network slice management function;
 wherein the application slice management function is configured to communicate directly with the network slice management function over the second interface to manage network slice subnets associated with the application slice.